How to Butterfly and Grill Cornish Game Hens

It can be tricky to grill Cornish game hens without drying them out. Butterflying the birds solves this problem. Butterflying Cornish game hens also produces a grilled hen with a nice, crispy skin. For this recipe, select 4 hens, each about 1-½ pounds.

Here’s how to butterfly Cornish game hens for the grill:

Using poultry shears, cut through bones on both sides of the backbone and remove the backbone.

With the skin side of the game hen down, use the poultry shears to make a 1/4-inch cut into the breastbone.

Using your fingers, gently press on the ribs to flatten the game hen.

Turn the bird skin side up, then tuck the wings behind the game hen to secure them.

Insert a metal skewer ½-inch from the end of the drumstick through skin and meat and out the other side.

Turn the leg so that the end of the drumstick faces the wing, then insert the tip of the skewer into the meaty section of the thigh under the bone.

Guide the skewer all the way through the breast and the second thigh. Turn the end of the drumstick toward the wing and guide the skewer through the drumstick ½-inch from the end (as in step 5).

Press the skewer through the bird so that the blunt end rests against the bird. Stretch the skin tight over legs, thighs, and breast halves.

Note: When you’ve finished the skewering process, the game hen will resemble a letter ”M”, with each leg and breast half resembling one side of the “M”.

Combine the 3 Tbsp. of brown sugar and spices in a bowl. Rub the game hens with the sugar and spice mixture. Refrigerate the hens while preparing the grill.

Light a large chimney starter filled with charcoal and allow to burn until coals are fully ignited and partially covered with a thin layer of ash, 20 to 25 minutes. Place a 9×13 inch disposable aluminum pan in the center of grill. Empty the coals into the grill, dividing them evenly on either side of the pan (you are setting up an area for indirect grilling). Position the cooking grate over coals and cover the grill, allowing the grate to heat up for about 5 minutes. Clean the cooking grate with a grill brush, then lightly oil the grate with vegetable oil.

While the grill is heating, combine the ketchup, 2 Tbsp. of brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, mustard, and garlic in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the glaze is thick and slightly reduced.

Place the Cornish game hens on the center of the grill (over the aluminum pan) with the skin side down. Open the grill lid vents completely and cover the grill. Grill the hens until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh registers 160°F and the skin of the hens has started to turn a nice golden brown color (this should take about 20 to 30 minutes).

Using grill tongs, move the hens to the hot sides of the grill. Cover the grill and continue to cook the birds until they are browned (about 5 minutes). Brush the hens with half of the glaze, then turn them and cook for 2 minutes. Brush the remaining glaze over the hens, turn them again and cook them until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh registers 170°F degrees (no longer than 3 minutes).

Remove the hens from the grill and place on a cutting board. Allow the birds to rest for 10 minutes (this is important). To serve, cut each hen in half through breastbone and place 2 halves on each place setting. Makes 4 servings.